In
1987 Aqua-Cat Charters was started by Peter
and Gayle Todd.
Peter and Gayle were born and bred in Mareeba and Cairns.
Peter had always been an avid fisherman as was Gayle's father.
Peter bought his first reef boat at age 19. He commenced commercial fishing
in 1979 and retired from that aspect of fishing in 1984 to take up a position
of Head Marine Instructor and set up the marine section at the local Tafe.
In 1987, most of the fishing charter operations in the Cairns area were tourist
orientated and Peter felt that the locals needed something for themselves,
so he bought his first boat - a 28 foot catamaran, and thereby
founded the name "Aqua-Cat". The current "Aqua-Cat" is
a 50 foot Randal design mono hull boat.
Peter has extensive local knowledge of the area due to a love of recreational
fishing, and commercial fishing and also exchanged stories with Gayle's father
who was born and reared in Cairns and knew the reefs around the area very well.
Aqua-Cat Charters was named the number one charter fishing boat business in
North Queensland and has featured in many fishing publications and
television shows over recent years.
The business has also had considerable involvement
with many research projects and organisations throughout
North Queensland.
An example of this is a Department of Primary Industries
Researcher who was given free space on Aqua-Cat's boat daily
for three years to assist him with his project on coral trout.
Over the years, Aqua-Cat Charters has also been involved heavily
with various government organisations such as the D.P.I.'s
Zonal Advisory Committees and the G.B.R.M.P.A's
Local Marine Advisory Committee. Peter is also the local
representative for the Qld
Charter Vessel Association.
Peter is a regular speaker on the local ABC
radio's"Fish Talk" which airs every
Friday.
Peter and Gayle believe in protecting the Great Barrier Reef fishing for future
generations and had fish catch quotas on the boat long before it was legislated.
